They used to be. For a long time, they couldn’t stop looking over their shoulder every time Avoki came near. They knew Avoki was on their side. But still...something is so off about them that Alekos could feel it.

It’s as if darkness itself clings to them, covering everything around them in shadows.

It’s not that Sinbad is completely clueless, it’s just that he’s used to different clues. He always feels bad when it rubs someone the wrong way but he can’t help it. Right now at least. He’s getting better at it! Better at hearing the tone of someone’s voice or the way they grip their weapon hilt...while they walk…

“Are you alright, Kiki?” Sinbad asks. Avoki hears him — he sees Avoki glance to him from under their cape — and loosens their grip. “What’s the matter?”

Avoki shakes their head. Sinbad nudges them with his shoulder. Avoki nudges back.

“What’s the matter?” Sinbad whispers. “Tell me, please?” Avoki scowls and moves their hands from under their cape to sign.

“Too many people. Loud. Tired. Confused,” Avoki tosses their hands up before pulling their hood tighter around their face. Sinbad hates it when they do that because then it’s harder to see their face. Half of Avoki’s language is facial expressions.

It’s a pretty face too.

“I guess I tend to forget about you and crowds,” Sinbad mumbles. “That’s ok! If we just get out of this main area, it gets a lot quieter.” Sinbad reaches to take Avoki’s hand but stops. Personal space. “Actually...there’s a place I’ve been meaning to show you anyway. It has some shells and stuff that you like. And it’s in a quieter spot too.”

      Sinbad loves these moments. Moments before the fights start, that rush of adrenaline and excitement, that little bit of worry about what to do if something goes wrong, but that’s all normal. He loves that feeling. He’s practically skipping as he wanders trying to find Avoki. He loves the moments before a fight but Avoki does not, he always like to check in on them when he can.

    He knows there’s a spot where the audience can’t see. A little nook that’s tucked into just the right corner with a sort of nice window that lets the fighters look out. It only works if you’re kind of tall but Avoki is definitely tall. Skipping around the corner, Sinbad smiles when he sees Avoki looking out that window. His feet kick a pebble into the nearby wall and makes Avoki jump at the noise.

    “Sorry, it’s just me,” Sinbad says as he walks over. Avoki relaxes when they see Sinbad but they don’t smile back. Sinbad looks out the window to see where Avoki might be looking but all he sees is the crowd. “See anyone you know?”

    That seems to be it. Avoki tenses up again, shoulders hiking up to their ears before they grab Sinbad’s hand. They nearly throw their glove off so they can properly spell for Sinbad, “P-A-R-E-N-T-S.”

    “Your parents?” Sinbad’s eyebrows furrow and he looks back out the window. He has no idea what Avoki’s parents look like but he’s looking as hard as he can. “What are they here for? To see you — I thought they hated you.”

    He hears Avoki scoff before they spell into Sinbad’s hand, “L-O-S-E.”

    Lose. Lose? Lose….who’s losing? Avoki is losing? Well, Avoki is supposed to lose the fight — that’s what they practiced, at least. Did they come just for that? To see Avoki lose? Well that’s kind of shitty.

    He says that and Avoki shrugs. They lean against the wall and put their head in their hands. Sinbad leans over to straighten the cape on their shoulders. He stands next to Avoki, leaning on that same wall as he thinks.

    He doesn’t know that much of Avoki’s family — mainly because of the language barrier — but he does know that Avoki doesn’t like them and they don’t like Avoki. At least it’s mutual, that’d really suck if it was just one way….which is off track thinking. He should be thinking about...what should he be thinking about? Avoki pushes back from the wall, motioning that he’s leaving. Sinbad quickly follows.

    “So what if they’re here? It doesn’t matter what they think. You know you’re as good of a fighter as I am, this is all just choreographed,” Sinbad rambles. “It doesn’t really matter.” Avoki nods. “It matters a little?” Avoki hesitates before nodding again. “Then don’t lose.”

    Avoki stops walking. Sinbad does too, excitedly turning around as his brilliant idea forms, “I’ll just throw the fight! And then you can win instead. It’ll be different and make a few people kind of mad...but that’s alright. If anything, it’ll be interesting!”

    “A-R-E. You. C-R-A-Z-Y?”

    “It’s a brilliant idea! Come on,” Sinbad almost jumps as he gives Avoki a big smile, “It’ll be fun.”

    Avoki sighs and slips their glove back on. Sinbad waits. Avoki cleans their glasses on their cape. Sinbad still waits. Avoki gives another sigh before signing a quick yes.

    “Great. Now let’s hurry up so you can kick my ass and disappoint your parents.”

    “I like it,” Sinbad says quietly. “Does it mean something?” Avoki’s expression softens and they nod. They tighten their ie and the mark is hidden again. They think a moment before motioning for Sinbad’s hand and spelling.

    S-H-I-P.

    “...is it...your ship’s flag?” Sinbad recalls one of the stories Avoki told him a little bit ago. How they used to live by the ocean and spent some time on a ship in the sea. Avoki rarely tells stories so Sinbad had remembered it in case he never got to hear it again.

    Avoki nods.

    “Well then, what about this one?” Sinbad’s hand moves to trace the tattoo on Avoki’s chest. It’s far more elaborate than the one on their hip or back, and the symbols are still foreign. Avoki watches as he does so, before they grab sinbad’s hand again to spell, S-H-I-E-L-D.

    “Huh,” Sinbad pokes the center of the tattoo. “I’m guessing there’s a reason as to why it’s over your heart then?”

    Avoki gives a wink as they turn away. Sinbad watches them and frowns at the tattoo on their back. The nice design was now ruined by a nasty scar that didn’t look like it would heal anytime soon. He had hoped it would disappear by now but...it hadn’t.

    He didn’t mean to scar them. The fight had gotten out of hand. He’s used to and enjoys the one on one fights, group battles always got far too hectic. He couldn’t pay attention to everything at once and his opponent dodged his sword slice — only for Avoki to get in the way of it.

    Avoki is picking some crud off their cape when Sinbad hugs them. His arms wrap around their waist and he rests his head on their shoulder. He feels Avoki’s head turn to look at him, one of their hands moving to hold his.

    “You know I didn’t mean to, right?” he asks quietly. He feels Avoki take a deep breath. Their hand squeezes Sinbad’s.

Sinbad doesn’t seem to mind. Hell, he seems to enjoy it. Not in a teasing way - never like that - but he just doesn’t seem to mind that his dance partner isn’t as confident on their feet as he is. And besides, he’s strong enough that every time Avoki trips, he can hold the both of them up. Avoki thanks the gods for that. The last thing they wanted right now was to be embarrassed by falling flat on their face.

Just imagine, the supposed “big bad villain” of the arena falling and breaking their nose. Wouldn’t that be a sight...

“You’re thinking too much,” Sinbad chides them. Avoki can’t sign with both of their hands holding Sinbad so a playful glare is their only response. Sinbad just shrugs. “You are! You always do. Just move, don’t worry about looking nice while you do it, you already look nice enough.”

Avoki rolls their eyes at the compliment, a blush blooming over their cheeks and ears as they ignore Sinbad’s advice. Which is a shame because he is right. Avoki focuses too much on their leg that they don’t keep track of their partner. Their good foot trips over Sinbad’s and Avoki tips to the side.

Thank the gods Sinbad is strong enough that he can effortlessly turn the accident into a dip, smirking at Avoki with a ‘I-knew-it’ face.

“You think way too much.”